The Novice (film)

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The Novice
The Novice (film).jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLauren Hadaway
Written byLauren Hadaway
Produced by
  • Ryan Hawkins
  • Zack Zucker
  • Steven Sims
  • Kari Hollend
Starring
CinematographyTodd Martin
Edited by
Music byAlex Weston
Production
companies
  • Picture Movers
  • H2L Media Group
  • ZNZ Productions
  • RBF Productions
Distributed byIFC Films
Release dates
  • June 13, 2021 (2021-06-13) (Tribeca)
  • December 17, 2021 (2021-12-17)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$24,322[1][2]

The Novice is a 2021 American psychological thriller drama film written and directed by Lauren Hadaway (in her feature directorial debut). The film stars Isabelle Fuhrman as an obsessive freshman who joins her university's rowing team. It also stars Amy Forsyth, Dilone, Charlotte Ubben, Jonathan Cherry, and Kate Drummond.

The Novice had its world premiere at the 20th Tribeca Film Festival on June 13, 2021, where it won three awards. The film was simultaneously released in theaters and on VOD on December 17, 2021. It earned five nominations at the 37th Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Feature.

Plot Summary[]

A college freshman joins her university's rowing team and undertakes an obsessive physical and psychological journey to make it to the top varsity boat, no matter the cost.

Cast[]

Release[]

The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 13, 2021.[3] There, it won the Best U.S. Narrative Feature Film prize.[4]

In August 2021, it was announced that IFC Films acquired North American distribution rights to the film, which was released in select theaters and on demand and digital platforms on December 17, 2021.[5]

Reception[]

Box office[]

In its opening weekend, the film earned $12,301 from 36 theaters for a per screen average of $341.[6] In its second weekend, it made $1,034 from only nine theaters.[7] The film dropped to six theaters in its third weekend and earned $1,222.[8]

Critical response[]

The film has a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 60 reviews, with an average rating of 7.80/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "A remarkable first feature for writer-director Lauren Hadaway, The Novice paints a thrilling -- and disturbing -- portrait of obsession."[9] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 83 out of 100, based on 14 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[10]

Jourdain Searles of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review and wrote, "A film this raw made with such a steady, assured hand only comes along once in a while. We should take notice."[11] Kate Erbland of IndieWire graded the film a B+ and wrote, "The film’s tense score, from composer Alex Weston, adds to the sense that The Novice is more a horror film than anything else, with a series of intriguing, vintage song choices alternately cutting and upping that tension..."[12] Hoi-Tran Bui of Slash Film rated it an 8 out of 10 and wrote, "It's an impressive feat of incisively dark tone, even if the plot and characters are little more than shadows."[13]

Alex Saveliev of Film Threat also rated the film an 8 out of 10 and wrote, "Hadaway may be a novice at helming feature-length films, but that doesn’t make her any less of a visionary."[14]

Accolades[]

Association Date of ceremony Category Recipients Result Ref(s).
Tribeca Film Festival June 17, 2021 Best U.S. Narrative Feature The Novice Won [15]
Best Actress in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film Isabelle Fuhrman Won
Best Cinematography in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film Todd Martin Won
Independent Spirit Awards March 6, 2022 Best Film Ryan Hawkins, Kari Hollend, Steven Sims and Zack Zucker Nominated [16][17]
Best Director Lauren Hadaway Nominated
Best Female Lead Isabelle Fuhrman Nominated
Best Supporting Female Amy Forsyth Nominated
Best Editing Lauren Hadaway and Nathan Nugent Nominated

References[]

  1. ^ "The Novice (2021)". The Numbers. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "The Novice (2021)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  3. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (June 13, 2021). "Blisters And Betrayal: 'The Novice' Explores Obsession Through College Rowing – Deadline Studio". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  4. ^ Hipes, Patrick (June 24, 2021). "Tribeca Festival Winners: 'Catch The Fair One' And 'Blind Ambition' Nab Audience Awards, Joining Juried Nods For 'The Novice', 'Brighton 4th', 'Ascension'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  5. ^ Grobar, Matt (August 6, 2021). "'The Novice': IFC Films Acquires North American Rights To Tribeca Prize Winner, Sets Release Date". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  6. ^ "Domestic 2021 Weekend 51". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  7. ^ "Domestic 2021 Weekend 52". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  8. ^ "Domestic 2021 Weekend 53". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  9. ^ "The Novice". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  10. ^ "The Novice". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  11. ^ Searles, Jourdain (July 6, 2021). "'The Novice': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  12. ^ Erbland, Kate (June 14, 2021). "'The Novice' Review: Isabelle Fuhrman Explodes Off the Screen in Intense College Rowing Drama". IndieWire. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  13. ^ Bui, Hoi-Tran (June 24, 2021). "'The Novice' Review: Isabelle Fuhrman Is A Force Of Nature In This Brutal Sports Drama [Tribeca]". /Film. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  14. ^ Saveliev, Alex (June 20, 2021). "The Novice". Film Threat. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  15. ^ The Editors (2021-06-17). "The 2021 Tribeca Festival Announces Award Winners". Tribeca News. Retrieved 2022-01-09. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ Tangcay, Jazz; Lang, Brent (2021-12-14). "Indie Spirit Awards 2022: Full List of Nominations". Variety. Retrieved 2021-12-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ "These are the 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominees". Film Independent. 2021-12-14. Retrieved 2021-12-15.

External links[]

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